Galveston, TX

Galveston, TX serves as the cruise port for Houston and is located about an hour southeast of Houston. Cruises from Galveston depart year-round.

Situated on the Gulf of Mexico 50 miles southeast of Houston, TX, Galveston is a relaxed beach town with a rich history. Magnificent homes on Broadway, many now museums, recall Galveston's era of wealth and prosperity in the late 1800s.

Continuing its legacy as the city's social center, The Strand is home to art galleries, shopping and seasonal festivals. In The Strand, visitors can explore restaurants, bars and stores housed in picturesque Victorian-era buildings; Post Office Street particularly is known for its art galleries and antiques vendors. Those with a sweet tooth are enticed to enter La King’s Confectionery, a 1920s-style ice cream parlor and candy shop at 2323 Strand St.

Pier 21 is a jumping off point for boat excursions. Offerings from Pier 21 include dolphin spotting cruises and the adrenaline-pumping Jet Boat Thrill Ride. You might search for ancestors at the Texas Seaport Museum’s database, which contains the names of about 133,000 immigrants who entered the U.S. at Galveston from 1846 to 1948. Or climb aboard the 1877 tall ship Elissa, docked at the museum.

Moody Gardens features a rain forest enclosed in a 10-story pyramid, an aquarium and an interactive space exhibit.

The Texas Cruise Ship Terminal on Galveston Island is located 42 miles from the Houston Hobby International Airport and 70 miles from the Houston Intercontinental Airport. Parking is $11.25 per day (rates subject to change by the Port Authority).

Some Galveston hotels offer free parking for the length of your cruise and complimentary round-trip shuttle rides to the port when you book an overnight stay. Ask your Vacations To Go travel counselor for more information.